ABU DHABI // Up to 800 people are expected to attend the Australian embassy’s celebration to mark the country’s national day on Wednesday.
Between 600 and 800 guests are expected at the invitation-only event at the Hiltonia Beach Garden on the Corniche. Australia’s national day is on Sunday.
“It’s a big event that will be outdoors and we have an Australian band that has been flown out by Etihad Airways for the event,” said Pablo Kang, Australia’s ambassador to the UAE. “They will perform live music and we will have Australian-themed food.”
Australia exports much of its food to the Middle East.
“Australian food does pretty well here,” Mr Kang said. “Twenty-five per cent of our lamb exports to the Middle East go to the UAE alone.”
He said Australian retail also had a strong presence in the UAE.
“Whether it’s Jones the Grocer, which is particularly well established in Abu Dhabi, or new entrants, we have new restaurants that are opening up,” he said. “We also have George Calombaris coming over for Gourmet Abu Dhabi.”
Calombaris is a judge for MasterChef Australia.
The event will host a guest of honour from the UAE.
“It’s an opportunity for us to thank the people that we work with in the media, in the diplomatic community and the UAE Government as well as Australian expatriates that we deal with,” Mr Kang said.
cmalek@thenational.ae